Antwerp, Belgium, October 31, 2012. After an incredible game before a packed and enthusiastic home crowd, Schelde-Natie Precura ANTWERP managed to qualify for the 1/8 finals in the 2013 CEV Volleyball Cup after beating Greece’s Aris THESSALONIKI at the golden set (23-25, 25-13, 22-25, 25-21, 23-21; golden set: 15-13). Aris had claimed its home game one week ago in three straight sets, but the Belgians still believed in their chances. The visitors took the first set (23-25), before in the second Baetens and his mates leveled the game. ANTWERP lead in the third set by 19:15, but some good Greek serves made it 1-2. THESSALONIKI was just one set away from qualifying for the next round, but the home team took convincingly set four so a tie-break had to bring a (first) decision. In that fifth set Aris tried to secure its pass for the next round (9:12), but again Mads Ditlevsen and his mates fought back and after a thrilling end they won 23-21 so a golden set had to be played. ANTWERP took an early 5:1 advantage there and after a scrappy end it was opposite Ditlevsen who gave his team the victory.
“This was my longest game ever”, laughed Peter Wohlfahrtstätter, middle blocker from Schelde-Natie Precura. “Luckily it had a happy end for us. We really fought as a team and the support from the crowd was really great and helped us gain the qualification for the next round”.
“Congratulations to our opponents”, states Aris coach Giorgios Giatsis. “I think both teams had chances to win and for the spectators this was a unique game. I think we’ve lost the match in set five where Kyriakidis had an injury which cost us a few points”.